Academy Applauds Extension of Critical Telehealth Flexibilities in Government Funding Package

The package extends telehealth flexibilities for two years and funds key diabetes treatment and prevention programs, but permanent telehealth access and broader actions to address the national nutrition crisis are still urgently needed.

February 4, 2026 – The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy), the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, applauds the inclusion of a two-year extension of key Medicare telehealth flexibilities in the government funding package passed yesterday evening following sustained advocacy by Academy members and volunteers.

These critical flexibilities, including enhanced Medicare coverage of telehealth services for beneficiaries, are essential to ensuring families across the country have access to reliable medical care. This is especially important for those living in rural and underserved communities. Telehealth flexibilities also represent a key tool for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to support patients in advancing their nutrition goals and improving overall health and well-being.

The Academy also appreciates the government funding package including other key nutrition and health priorities, such as an extension of the Work Geographic Practice Cost Index Floor, funding for the Special Diabetes Program and important reforms to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.

At the same time, the Academy urges lawmakers to go further and permanently expand Medicare telehealth flexibilities as well as take action to address the costly, continued rise of diet-related chronic diseases across the nation. Commonsense, bipartisan reforms, including the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, would expand access to high value nutrition care that is underutilized and under covered in Medicare and across the health care system.

The Academy will continue advocating for policies that expand access to evidence-based nutrition services nationwide.